Women’s Sevens

Atlanta 7s: Day One recap

Chad Wise

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February 16, 2014

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Michael Lee

ATLANTA, Ga. – The Women’s Eagles Sevens finished pool play at Atlanta 7s – the second round of the 2013-14 IRB Women’s Sevens World Series – with a 1-2 record Saturday, Feb. 15, including a 41-0 win against China in the last match of Pool A.

The Eagles met border rival Canada in their opening match. Canada, who had finished fourth at Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens during Thanksgiving weekend last November, defeated the Eagles 31-0 thanks to two tries from Kayla Moleschi and one try each from Ashley Steacy, Jennifer Kish and Bianca Farella. Mandy Marchak (2) and Magali Harvey kicked the conversions.

Australia, who compiled a 6-0 record in Dubai on the way to a Cup title, dealt the Eagles another shutout loss, 17-0, in their second match of pool play. The Eagles managed to hold off Australia until the fifth minute, but two tries to end the first half from Saofaiga Saemo and Emilee Cherry were capped by Charlotte Caslick’s try in the opening minute of the second half to put the Eagles to bed.

Having gone four consecutive halves without scoring a single try, the Eagles went up against China to end day one at Fifth Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University. China’s last action on the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series was an 11th-place finish at Amsterdam Sevens last May. Victoria Folayan scored three tries in the first half and Jessica Javelet dotted down twice for the crossover athlete’s first scores of the Series. Amelia Villines and Rebekah Siebach each added second-half tries for the 41-0 win.

With a 1-0-2 record and a minus-seven point differential, the Eagles will face Canada in Sunday’s Cup Quarterfinal at 12:00 P.M. ET. The neighbors to the north finished with the best record out of all 12 teams in Atlanta after three matches, pitting them against the second-best third-place team. Watch the Eagles live on Universal Sports and follow along with live match updates on Twitter with @USARugby.